Following recent sexual assault and harassment allegations against the New York City Ballet, a new Care2 petition is calling on the organization to hire its first female artistic director. The Care2 petition has gathered over 10,000 signatures since launching.

In January 2018, the company’s longtime artistic director Peter Martins retired in disgrace after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and physical abuse.

“It’s clear that the New York City Ballet desperately needs change, direction, and fresh leadership,” says the Care2 petition. “In the company’s history, there has never been a female artistic director — but it’s time for a change … Now is the time for the New York City Ballet to take the necessary steps to protect its dancers from exploitation and abuse.”

The Care2 petition comes after a couple of serious sexual harassment scandals this year have rocked the arts organization. In September, student-dancer Alexandra Waterbury filed a lawsuit against the ballet company, alleging sexual harassment by male dancers.

In her lawsuit, Waterbury calls out New York City Ballet for condoning an “out-of-control, fraternity-house, abusive and sexually-charged environment” that emboldened men to “violate the basic rights of women.” She states that one major reason the toxic culture at NYCB was “allowed to fester” was because the company has been slow to hire a new artistic director.

Care2 is a network of nearly 50 million people around the globe standing together, starting petitions and sharing stories that inspire action. We use our cutting-edge technology and team of experienced campaigners to fuel the progressive movement by uniting our members with nonprofits and mission-based brands working on the causes they care about. A pioneer of online advocacy since 1998, Care2 is a social enterprise, using the power of business as a force for good.